KEY TO THK SPKCIES OF CISTUS 



71 



fruit is a more or less 3-celled capsule with numerous seeds. These plants 

 are sometimes called Sun ' Roses ' because the flowers open only in sun- 

 shine and soon drop their petals. [Divisions ; seeds ; twig cuttings.] 



Cfstus. These are also called Rockroses. They are aromatic shrubs 

 having all parts covered with short or long usually glandular hairs. The 



Fig. 32. — Laurel-leaved Cistus. 



FiQ. 33. — Hairy Cistus. 



leaves are opposite, simple, mostly evergreen and entire-edged. The 

 flowers are large, rose-like, white to purple and usually clustered. 

 The fruit is a dry many-seeded capsule splitting into 5 valves when ripe. 

 These plants are fully hardy only in the Gulf states and are rarely culti- 

 vated even there. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES OE CISTUS 



* Leaves 3-ribbed. (A.) 

 A. Compact shrub to 2 feet ; leaves narrow, rough above, hairy 



below ; flowers deep rose-color, nearly 2 inches wide, 3-4 in a 



cluster with short stalks. June to August. TJNDnLATE-LEAVED 



RocKROSE (29) — Cistus crlspus. 

 A. Erect glutinous shrub to 6 feet ; leaves smooth above and very 



hairy below ; flowers white blotched with purple, nearly 3 inches 



